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Tag: Shehu Sani

  • Poverty, insecurity in north caused poor education, says Shehu Sani

    Poverty, insecurity in north caused poor education, says Shehu Sani

    Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, has attributed the poverty and insecurity plaguing Northern Nigeria to the region’s inadequate education system.

    Speaking at the “Kaduna Girl Child Conference and Award Ceremony” organized by The Creative Think Tank in Kaduna on Saturday, Sani emphasized that had the region’s leaders and citizens been properly educated three decades ago, the current wave of insecurity would not have taken root.

    He underscored that education is vital for individual empowerment, societal progress, and the attainment of peace and security. 

    Sani also pointed out the abundance of resources in the North, including fertile land, minerals, and rivers, but lamented that the region remains underdeveloped due to poor leadership and underutilization of its resources.

    “Northern Nigeria is lagging behind the South because of the poor education of our people. If the people responsible for insecurity in the North were educated three decades ago, we wouldn’t have them today picking up arms and killing and kidnapping people for ransom,” Sani stated. 

    “That was why I said that one of the plans we need in Northern Nigeria is how can we educate our people at least to the level of literacy. When people are educated, they are empowered, liberated, and energized; society is secured, and peace is guaranteed. 

    “But when you have illiteracy you have poverty. When you have poverty, you have insecurity. These are the fundamental issues we are facing as a country today. 

    Read Also: Ndume, Shehu Sani differ on Tax Reform Bills

    “Mind you the northern part of Nigeria has what a nation needs to survive. We have 95 percent arable land and 60 percent land mass. There is no State in the North today without deposited mineral resources – lithium, gold, and uranium, among others. 

    “Out of 235 Nigerian rivers, two-thirds are located in the northern part of Nigeria. Unfortunately, with all this wealth that surrounds North, there is a serious disconnect between this wealth and the standard of living of our people”, he decried.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Think Tank group, Olivera Idahosa, disclosed that his organization will be empowering 200 girls in 2025.

    According to Olivera, the Girl child is more vulnerable in society, which was why his organization was putting more emphasis on providing solutions to those threats and challenges that they face.

    “Today we are celebrating our girls in line with the United Nations declaration. We want to see our girls flourishing in all they do in a safe environment. 

    “It is also an opportunity to honor individuals who have contributed meaningfully in advocating girls’ rights.

    “In 2025, we are also looking at how we can empower about 200 girls, so by this time next year, they will be celebrated”, he said.

  • PDP suffers setback as 10,000 Shehu Sani’s supporters defect to APC

    PDP suffers setback as 10,000 Shehu Sani’s supporters defect to APC

    Barely 24 hours after the emergence of new state executives, the main opposition party in Kaduna State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday suffered a major setback, as 10,000 supporters of Senator Shehu Sani defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central in the upper chamber of the National Assembly from 2015 to 2019, was a PDP gubernatorial aspirant during the 2023 general elections.

    The decamping supporters who came from across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State stormed the 2023 APC Campaign Office at NEPA Roundabout, carrying posters of Senator San, welcoming him back to the APC.

    According to the supporters, they have persuaded their leader, Senator Sani to return to the ruling party and they are convinced that, will officially decamp to the APC in the coming week.

    One of the leaders of the decamping members and former Campaign Director, of Senator Sani in the PRP, Mr. Monday Jaji, said he has been struggling for Sani’s defection for over two years because of his track record of achievements while he served as Senator of Kaduna Central on the platform of APC.

    Commenting on the defection, Jaji said, he knows what the APC and Nigerians lost in the ruling Party, adding that Shehu Sani is a man of the masses, who stands for the truth.

    Read Also: PDP rejects election results in three councils

    According to him, “When he was a Senator, Comrade Shehu Sani built seven hospitals across his constituency. He distributed over 200 transformers to communities, assisted the poor masses, and even bought a house for the destitute in Kano Road.

    “Shehu Sani built a hospital in Chikun and built 3 in Igabi Local Government, Rigachikun, and Giwa Local Government,” he said.

    Receiving the decampees, Kaduna State Chairman of the APC, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada Rtd expressed happiness about the return of the defectors to the APC, saying that coming to the party will propel the APC and Kaduna State to greater heights.

    The Opposition party (PDP), which had earlier lost some big shots to the ruling party, is troubled by the wave of defection as more lawmakers who lost their return tickets to the National Assembly during the last elections are set to leave the party.

  • Kaduna’s stolen money should be recovered, says Shehu Sani

    Kaduna’s stolen money should be recovered, says Shehu Sani

    A former senator, who represented Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, yesterday urged the Kaduna State Government to recover all the funds allegedly diverted under the Nasir El-Rufai Administration.

    The state House of Assembly accused El-Rufai and his aides of squandering N423 billion in eight years, an allegation the former governor denied.

    The House received the report of the ad hoc committee set up to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded by the former governor.

    The report indicted El-Rufai and many of his commissioners and aides.

    Sani said the report vindicated his long-held opinion that there was massive mismanagement of funds by the last administration.

    In a post on social media, the Senator stated: “The Kaduna Assembly has done a good job. I wish to congratulate them.

    “The next step is to ensure the recovery of our stolen money…

     “For anyone who cared to go through that published report, I don’t know what ‘serving with integrity means’.

    “Kaduna was a victim of two types of banditry; the one in our forests and the one in the Government House.

    “They left behind estates and malls for their children and left behind a mountain of debt for the children of the poor.”

    Sani said the House report vindicated his personal views.

    “For eight years, I stood alone telling the people of Kaduna State and the country how our state was systematically looted…

    Read Also: AFCON final: Turn off power to save husbands, Shehu Sani to Nigerian women

    “The people inside and outside the state were deceived with aesthetics and industrial-scale propaganda.

    “They wrecked the economy of the state, … destroyed the lives and livelihoods of millions of people and used religion to divide our state.

     “Many politicians in the state were silenced out of fear of arrest, attacks by thugs or having their properties confiscated or demolished. I refused to be silenced.

    “The Kaduna Assembly report is a vindication,” Sani said.

    El-Rufai denied the allegations, describing the report that indicted him as “jaundiced.”

    The House alleged that N423 billion of the state resources was siphoned under El-Rufa’i.

    It mandated Governor Uba Sani to refer the former governor and others indicted aides to relevant security agencies for investigation.

    Chairman of the ad-hoc committee and Deputy Speaker, Henry Magaji Danjuma, presented the report during plenary on Wednesday.

    The report alleged that most of the loans obtained by the El-Rufai Administration were not used for the purpose for which they were secured, while due process was not followed in some cases.

    The Speaker, Yusuf Liman, said the past administration’s financial activities left the state with huge liabilities.

    The report was adopted and its recommendations were forwarded to the governor for immediate action.

    The House alleged that the humongous withdrawals of cash in naira and dollars from the state’s coffers had no supporting records of utilisation.

    It further alleged that El-Rufa’i connived with commissioners and heads of parastatals to defraud the state by issuing directives to the Kaduna Public Procurement Agency (KADPPA) to circumvent due process in  payment to contractors.

  • AFCON final: Turn off power to save husbands, Shehu Sani to Nigerian women

    AFCON final: Turn off power to save husbands, Shehu Sani to Nigerian women

    A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has warned Nigerian women against allowing their husbands to die over football.

    Sani,in a tweet on Friday, advised women to go as far as turning off the power meter and sabotaging the generator set especially when they are not sure of their husbands’ health status.

    Read Also: AFCON final: Ivory Coast will win in error – Prophet

    “If your husband loves watching Football on live TV and you are doubtful about his health status, just turn off the power meter and switch off and don’t forget to sabotage the generator,” he wrote.

    The Nation reports that at least five Nigerians died while watching the semi-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday night in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Those who died watching the match include a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, a corps member serving in Adamawa State, simply identified as Samuel, Deputy Bursar, Kwara State University, Malete, Ayuba Abdullahi, Mikail Osundiji of Olomoore area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play against host Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

  • AFCON: ‘Save your husbands from death’ – Shehu Sani advises Nigerian women

    AFCON: ‘Save your husbands from death’ – Shehu Sani advises Nigerian women

    Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker, has advised Nigerian women not to let their husbands die over football.

    The politician, who served in the 8th Assembly, asserted that wives had a responsibility to keep their husbands alive.

    The Nation reports that during the Nigeria vs South Africa semi-final, over four Nigerians passed away, with some succumbing to hypertension, while the cause of death remains unknown for others. 

    The match was tension-soaked even as the Super Eagles defeated the Bafana in penalty shootouts.

    According to reports, those who died watching the match include a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, a corps member serving in Adamawa State, simply identified as Samuel, Deputy Bursar, Kwara State University, Malete, Ayuba Abdullahi, Mikail Osundiji of Olomoore area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Read Also: Shehu Sani pledges support for Mr. Ibu

    Shehu urged women to take decisive actions, even resorting to sabotaging the generator set or turning off the electricity meter, particularly if they have concerns about their husband’s well-being.

    “If your husband loves watching Football on live TV and you are doubtful about his health status, just turn off the power meter and switch off and don’t forget to sabotage the generator,” the lawmaker said in a tweet on Friday.

    The Super Eagles paid tribute to the deceased fans by holding a one-minute silence before starting their Friday training session.

  • Shehu Sani pledges support for Mr. Ibu

    Shehu Sani pledges support for Mr. Ibu

    Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani has vowed to help ailing veteran actor Mr. Ibu, describing him as his “favorite comedian”.

    The Nation reported that the actor celebrated his 62nd birthday in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos on Tuesday where he requested financial support so his leg would not be amputated.

    He said: “I have been down for so many weeks, all I’m hoping for is your prayers and assistance. I’ve been in the hospital, as I speak to you, I’m still lying down in the hospital.

    Read Also; Tinubu appoints heads of 10 agencies

    “The medical director says in case his new idea didn’t work, the best idea is to cut off my leg, just see me, if they cut off my leg where will I go to? Please be on prayers for me, talk to God Almighty, I don’t want my leg to be cut off. God bless you.”

    Reacting to the actor’s predicament, Sani wrote via his X handle on Thursday said that Mr Ibu should not be disappointed, adding that he and others would get wealthy individuals to also help.

    He wrote: “Mr Ibu is my favorite artist and Comedian. He lights up and entertains the homes of millions of Nigerians. We shall not let him down for reasons we can all collectively solve. We shall do the needful and also bring the attention of the big names to do the needful.”

  • Southwest/Southeast unite or lose 2023 – Shehu Sani

    HUMAN rights activist and former lawmaker in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned that unless the Southwest and Southeast unite, getting power to shift south in 2023 may be impossible.

    Speaking on Saturday with FCT Council journalists, Sani said as much as he supports the rotation of power, certain conditions must be met to achieve a power shift in 2023.

    “On the issue of power shift, my position is that in a nation like ours, that has gone through the experiences of civil war, coup, ethnic and religious crisis, it will be unfair for one part of the country to use their demographic or topographic advantage to hold on to power, knowing that it was not the topography or demography that delivered them power from the beginning.

    Read Also: Shehu Sani loses at tribunal

    “So rotation of power is what I prescribed and I stood for. Whether that power should go to the East or West is dependent on people from the South.

    “And what I will say is that there is a possibility of producing a Northern president in 2023 if the East and the West remain divided in their resolve. It is the division that will be exploited, by those who are proposing the issue of competence,” he said.

    According to him, his advocacy is in respect for the principle of rotation of power.

    “But we should understand that the warning is that: my recommendation would come to nothing if we have a divided South.

    “If you continue to maintain your historical rivalry of Azikiwe and Awolowo, then it will continue where it is,” he said.

  • Senate grills IGP on terrorism, banditry, kidnapping

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday briefed the Senate on what the Force is doing to stem the spate of terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in parts of the country.

    The briefing which lasted about three hours was held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the issues under discussion.

    The apparent breakdown of law and order in parts of some northern states was said to have topped the exchange between the lawmakers and the IGP.

    A source that was part of the discussion described the presentation of the police boss as “grim.”

    The source who said that “it was a session of reality for us” insisted that “those at the helms affairs must act fast to rescue the country from looming danger.”

    He said that “questions were asked and answered by the police chief to the best of his ability I suppose.”

    He refused to go into details “because the issues are so grim to be discussed on the pages of newspapers. It is a matter of taking steps to address teething security challenges confronting the health of the nation and its security network.”

    He said, “You can see how the Senate President spoke about the appearance of the police chief. We have to play safe because it is security matter.

    “One thing that must be done and done urgently is that action must be taken where necessary to rescue the nation from the stifling grip of kidnappers and armed bandits. There may be no time to waste.”

    The Senate, had last week, invited the police boss to brief it on what the Police is doing to address mounting insecurity in parts of the country.

    The invitation of the police boss was sequel to a motion by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), who drew the attention of his colleagues to increasing cases of banditry and kidnapping especially along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    Read Also: Senate to probe appointment of new NYSC DG

    Immediately the IGP arrived at the National Assembly around 11.22am, he was ushered into the Senate chamber around 11.25am by the Clerk to the Senate in the company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Ita Enang.

    The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, had earlier moved that the Order Paper should be rearranged to enable the Senate take the briefing of the IGP first before any other item on the Order Paper.

    The prayer was unanimously adopted. The briefing lasted till 2.45pm.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided, said that the Senate in a closed session was briefed by police boss on armed banditry, terrorist activities, kidnapping, armed robbery and other security challenges confronting the country.

    Saraki said: “The Senate in a closed door session was briefed by the acting Inspector-General of Police on armed banditry, kidnappings, robberies, terrorist activities and other security challenges in the country.

    “The Nigerian Police should ameliorate the situation and the challenges. We hereby hope to address the menace squarely.

    “He (IGP) promised to address the areas that have to do with disciplining of officers that have been found wanting. Efforts will be taken to improve on the situation particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna axis and also on areas of intelligence and technology.

    “The Senate also promised and is committed that it is ready at any time to give assistance to provide adequate funding that is required in order to make the police to be able to combat the necessary threats to our security.”

    On his part, Adamu told reporters after the briefing that the police would recruit 10,000 officers and men this year to beef up the capability of the police in the face of mounting challenges.

    The police boss also assured that any policeman found culpable in the alleged raping and molesting ladies arrested at various nightclubs will not be spared.

    Adamu said: “We are putting in place a strategy that works. The Senate has appreciated what we have presented and they are willing to enhance the strategy. The Senate has agreed to support all our activities to make the country secure.

    “Policing is dynamic. The number of personnel we have can never be enough. But the government is trying to recruit every year. This year, we have 10,000 to recruit. We will meet up with the required number.

    “The information you got about giving N100 billion to herdsmen to stop killing is from the social media. There was no discussion like that. The source of that information is not yet known. It is somebody’s imagination.

    “The raiding of nightclubs in Abuja was done by FCT task force. They came out to do their job and they reached out to police to support them and we did that. Women were arrested and convicted. It means that they committed an offence

    “The allegation that some policemen raped and molested them, we will set up a panel to investigate the issues. Anybody caught will face the law.”

  • ‘INEC hired el-Rufai’s personal lawyer to defend case at tribunal’

    Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Shehu Sani has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of alleged conspiracy by hiring Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai’s personal lawyer as her counsel at the tribunal.

    According to the Senator, hiring Governor el-Rufai’s personal lawyer in a case the governor himself is a party is an attempt to truncate justice.

    Speaking with newsmen at his Kaduna residence, the Senator who is challenging the National Assembly result of the 9th March election in which he was a contestant, averred that A.U Mustapha has been Governor el-Rufai’s personal lawyer in all of the court cases of the governor including four cases of defamation filed against him by the governor.

    “The same lawyer is the one representing el-Rufai in a case between the governor and the Union newspapers, and another case between the governor and the Ahmed Datti of Baze University “.

    Read Also: INEC: Atiku spreading fake election results

    The Senator said, “The NASS election was rigged, fraudulent and marred by massive irregularities and it was geared towards removing some of us and replacing us with their stooges.

    “Leaders cannot claim to be men and women of integrity once they impose themselves in position of power fraudulently. Election in Kaduna State was neither free, fair nor credible.

    “INEC using el-Rufai’s personal lawyer as their counsel is not only suspicious and my counsel has petition the commission, even though we are not challenging it in court because it will eat into the 90 days widow of the tribunal.

    “We have presented documents to INEC to proof that A.U Mustapha is a personal lawyer to Governor el-Rufai. Why should INEC hire el-Rufai’s personal lawyer if the commission knows that all that was done is fair and just.

    “My votes at the election was not counted, my votes were surpressed against the principle of fairness and transparency and I will not remain silence to allow injustice prevail. I can tell beyond reasonable doubt that I am the winner of the election.

    “We are going to challenge the proof of massive fraud, rigging and malpractices that characterizes the election in Kaduna State.” He stressed.

  • Shehu Sani expresses hope of getting justice

    As the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal begin sitting in Kaduna, Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District has expressed hope that justice would be done to the petitions he filled before the court.

    The Senator said, part of the reasons the petition was filed was to seek justice and provide evidence where necessary to prove his case.

    Sani, who spoke through his Counsel, Barrister Kefas Kure said, “we expect to get justice at the end of the case.

    “It is equally glorifying to note that the judges have requested the cooperation of all legal practitioners to remain committed and up doing during the sitting.

    He also expressed satisfaction that the tribunal Judges said they will not entertain unnecessary delay as petitions would be treated with urgency and dispatch.

    In his address during the official inaugural sitting of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal, Kaduna State, holding in Kaduna, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice A.H. Suleiman.

    “It is not in doubt that this Tribunal is a product of the Supreme Law of the country, otherwise called the grundnorm, i.e. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “Section 285(1) & (2) of the said Constitution provides for the establishment of one or more Election Tribunals to be known as the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal.

    “It is in view of the above provision and pursuant to the powers conferred by paragraph 1(3) of the sixth schedule to the Constitution that the appointing authority constituted among others, this National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal for Kaduna State.

    “The Tribunal is made up of the Chairman and two other members and its jurisdiction is as spelt out in section 285 of the Constitution. In nutshell, the Tribunal shall to the exclusion of any other Court or Tribunal have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as whether any person has been validly elected as a member of National Assembly; or any person has been validly elected as a member of the House of Assembly of a state.

    “The instant Tribunal is constituted to hear petitions arising from the recently held National and Kaduna State Legislative Elections. At the moment, 18 petitions have been filed, ten (10) of which are in respect of the National Assembly elections, while eight (8) are of the Kaduna State House of Assembly elections.

    “Election petitions by their nature are sui generis; i.e. in a class of its own. It is therefore obvious that time is of essence. In this regard, we request the cooperation of all, especially the legal practitioners

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